Preparation and characterization of rigid polyurethane–polyglycerol nanocomposite foams

This work reports on the preparation of polyurethane–polyisocyanurate (PUR–PIR) foams containing different polyglycerols and layered silicate nanoclays. The rigid polyurethane foams were obtained in a laboratory scale, in a single step method, from a two-component system with a NCO to OH groups ratio equal to two. The reaction mixture consisted of the proper amounts of a commercial oligoetherpolyol, polyglycerol, catalysts, water, nanofiller, and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate. The obtained foams containing 6% of one of three types of montmorillonite (MMT) (Cloisite 30B, Laponite RD, Bentonite) were characterized in terms of their structure, density, brittleness, compressive strength and thermal stability. The nanocomposite foams showed a higher number of cells with a smaller cell size in the presence of MMT, while the foams modified with nanofiller Cloisite 30B presented the best compressive strength and the best fire resistance.